Kintsugi, breathes a new lease of life

It got the life back! 

What a shocking incident when your favourite ceramic slipped out of your hand and got crack or chipped. It happens a lot to the careless person like me. It's like "not again!". 

The painful appearance made me feel down and I put them away somewhere I wouldn't see or even threw away some of them that broke into pieces. I did know that there's a way to repair broken ceramics, but now that I'm living in Singapore, it's not easy to find the right place to have them fixed.

Before the summer I happened to find "Kintsugi" class where I can learn and repair my broken ceramics by myself during my summer break. By a sudden turn, just like searching for lost treasure, I picked two broken items to bring along to Japan. I was so excited. 

What is Kintsugi?

Kintsugi is the method of repairing broken ceramics using Urushi lacquer and the power of nature. The history of Kintsugi is quite a long since some earthware pieces adhered or the cracked ones coated with Urushi were found from Jomon ruins in Japan dating back more than 10 thousands years, which means that Urushi had been already recognized as an adhesive at the time. Kintsugi that is familiar today originally started in Muromachi era when the tea ceremony culture was flourishing. Back then not only repairing by adhering but also utilising the repaired part as scenery, which is the sense of beauty unique to Japan. 

Because of the name of Kin(=gold)tsugi (=joinery), gold tends to be featured, but it actually is Urushi that mends broken part, then metal powder including gold, silver, tin and so on is often used as a decorative finish.

Today there're another ways for Kintsugi to use different materials like synthetic resin or epoxy instead of Urushi lacquer, however in the light of food safety, Urushi which is the natural material is the best suited for tablewares.  

Repairing and mending breathes a new lease of life into them. If you do it yourself, you could get involved with the item partially and infuse them with your unique qualities. I found that the time I spent for it just made me feel inspired and peaceful together with a sense of fulfilment. All these feelings that I can never get from brand new items.  

Kintsugi definitely allows us to get a special attachment to your items, and then leads to value your items with a great care using them as long as life lasts by repairing and mending. It is true for everything. In today's world where is full of random handy stuff, I would pick the ones that I can truly love in the long run and nurture them rather than getting new stuff more and more. 

By taking these repaired Kintsugi items in our everyday life, I'd like to share this feeling with my family, friends and just everybody!  

Kintsugi is often compared to our life and human relationship. Most of us have experienced failure or faced a setback, however overcoming those difficulties and challenges allows us to add a new perspective to the person and then become tasteful and stronger. In human relationship, it definitely promotes bonding.  

Kintsugi tells us that imperfection is beauty that makes us special and unique. Nobody is perfect. Love and accept yourself just as you are without hiding imperfectness. That is your beauty! 

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